Board of directors

OfficersTrey Phillips, President

Deborah Grove, Vice PresidentJeffrey Richards, TreasurerPaula Warrender, Secretary

MembersDon C. Adams, Ph.D.

Carol BrestickerStephanie Calder

Bill EmeryChristine Kavanagh

Edward LyonTim Mahoney

Trisha Gibbons MartyCraig Niklaus

Lynne PiotrowskiLorre Robinson

Spencer SweetingPhilip Thomas

J. Michael Wiley, Esq.Robert Williams, Ph.D.

Philip Sprunger, Emeritus

Executive DirectorGregory L. Hayes, Jr.

The WASD Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization,

incorporated in 2004.

2780 West Fourth StreetWilliamsport, PA 17701

570.327.5500 ext. 33495www.wasd.org/foundation

Return to Glory Campaign Reaches MilestoneSTA Stadium Renovations to Wrap Up in Time for 1st Home Game

Thanks to the many generous community members, businesses and organizations, the WASD Education Foundation’s Return to Glory Capital Campaign is closer to meeting its goal of $2.7 million.

To date, the amount secured in donations and commitments to the campaign stands at $2.3 million, or 84 percent of the goal.

In May, the campaign marked its most significant milestone to date: the groundbreaking for renovations to STA Stadium at WAHS to install the new artificial turf field and new eight-lane track and other infrastructure improvements.

The project is expected to be completed by the Sept. 11 home football game.

“It’s been great to watch this campaign unfold and gain the support that it has over the last two years that we’ve been fundraising,” said Executive Director Greg Hayes.

More than 420 donors have contributed

to the campaign thus far, with 148 of them representing employees of the district for a combined commitment of more than $133,000. However, a little more than $400,000 is still needed to meet the campaign goal. To see more on the campaign, or to review ways to give, visit www.wasd.org/foundation, or call the foundation office at 570-327-5500.

NeWsLetter | aUGUst 2015Securing resources, enriching education

Above, crews continue work at STA Stadium in late July. At right, shovels are shown hoisted during the groundbreaking ceremony held on May 27. Track the progress on the WASDEF website or Facebook page.

“Tinkertown engaged, awakened and challenged the emotional, physical, intellectual, social and creative aspects of our students. Thank you so much for your grant! We couldn’t have done it without you. Our successes are your successes.”— Mrs. sandy corson, Jackson Primary school art teacher

tiNKertoWN // The Teacher Mini-Grant program funded a makerspace project last year at Jackson Primary School. The after-school program provided a creative opportunity to students and challenged them to think, explore, create, analyze, collaborate, construct and present ideas in the fields of science and technology (STEM). See “Funding Helps Brings innovation to Classroom” on Page 2 for another Teacher Mini-Grant story.

Funding Helps Bring Innovation to Classroom

First-grade students in Marcy Garrison’s classroom at Stevens Primary School were on the move last year — all while remaining stationary. Thanks to a $1,500 Teacher Mini-Grant provided by the foundation and a $5,000 Lowe’s Toolbox for Education grant, Garrison’s classroom seating took on an unique look in an innovative approach to help get her students learning.

With help from both foundations, Garrison purchased sets of kinesthetic desks, which allow students to use movement, such as pedaling, to facilitate cognition, maximize brain function and anchor learning all while seated or kneeling.

“Results and outcomes from recent neuroscience research support that movement stimulates and enhances cognitive development by increasing the ability to pay attention, extending

the concentration span, improving short- and long-term memory, forming positive moods, and supplying the brain with energy and nutrients,” Garrison said.

Garrison said the initial round of students who used the desks were those who were in need of diverse responses to instruction and intervention.

“The desks help foster learning by allowing students the ability to focus while keeping their bodies active,” Garrison added. “By keeping active, fewer disruptions occur, which in turn means greater academic achievement.”

Garrison’s classroom was one of five to receive one of the foundation’s Teacher Mini-Grants last year, and Stevens is one of more than 500 schools across the U.S. to be awarded the Lowe’s education grant.

BUILDING BRIGHT FUTURES

Among the 117 scholarships, awards and prizes held at the foundation, the P.D. Mitchell Memorial Scholarship Fund is one of the newest established. It was distributed as an award for the first time this year to two members of the Class of 2015.

The Campbell Street Family Youth & Community Association Inc. established the scholarship fund for a graduating male and female student “who have shown leadership potential and/or show promise of academic success in their pursuit of higher education.” Successful candidates must have taken action and strides in volunteering, community service work or youth mentoring, or involvement in other social services within the community.

The gifting organization, once known as the Bethune-Douglas Community Center, was at one time headed by the late Mr. Mitchell, who helped “bridge the gap between cultures, races, religions, ancestry and economic status” in Williamsport and Lycoming County.

Known as an innovator and for his strong leadership and stewardship, he helped the community center flourish and was the recipient of numerous humanitarian and community service awards.

Creating a gift in the form of an endowment can provide funding for WASD in perpetuity. It is a perfect way to establish an enduring legacy in honor or memory of a loved one, all of which can be done through the WASD Education Foundation.

LEADERSHIP & CHARACTERIn partnership with Firetree Place, 600 Campbell St., the WASD Education Foundation sponsored 25 students from WAHS and WAMS to attend the 2015 Black Male Development Symposium at Arcadia University in Philadelphia on May 9. The symposium featured sessions on family and relationships, health wellness and spirituality, and winning the future, among other workshops and special events.

P.d. Mitchell Memorial scholarship fund established

PHoto Used coUrtesY of tHe WiLLiaMsPort sUN-GaZette

NURTURING EXCELLENCE

2015 GoLf oUtiNG // The foundation’s annual golf tournament was held on June 19 at White Deer Golf Course. The event, held to benefit the foundation’s Return to Glory Capital Campaign, raised $6,126 from among its 21 foursomes and sponsors.

Enhancing Education Through EITCFacilitated by the First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania, the education foundation identifies programs and solicits dollars on behalf of the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program designated for WASD. During the 2014-15 school year, $11,109 was granted to venture and educator-in-residence programs that have helped enhance curriculum and the educational experience for our students. (See program spotlight below.) Funded programs last year included “A Day in the Life at WASD,” a photography project led by WAHS students in partnership with Lycoming College; “LEGO’s MoretoMath Classroom Packs”; “Line: Drawn & Stitched,” an artist-in-residence program with textile artist Amanda McCavour; and “Master Class with Dashon Burton,” an educator-in-residence program with WAHS

alumnus and Grammy-award winning, bass-baritone singer Dashon Burton.

The EITC program is administered by the state Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED)under Act 48. The program awards tax credits to businesses that make contributions to scholarship organizations and/or educational improvement organizations that are on a list approved and published by DCED.

Thank you to our 2014-15 EITC donors:

Brodart co.first National Bank of Pa

fts international services LLcGiant food stores

Northwest savings BankWoodlands Bank

For more information on how your business can help support WASD through this program, visit www.wasd.org/foundation.

GoiNG GLoBaL // The foundation helped provide $3,075 to send Cochran Primary’s Odyssey of the Mind team to the World Finals at Michigan State University in May. There, the team took eighth place!

“As a freshman, I was a part of concert chorale and we took part in things some people will never get to experience, like singing in the Community Arts Center with a professional symphonic orchestra. As a sophomore, we sang along with Dashon Burton, a really talented singer, and I had a solo in one of the pieces we performed that night. It was an amazing experience.”— Qayyim ali, class of 2017Track-and-field state champion Qayyim Ali speaks of his experiences and successes at WAHS while referencing the foundation’s 10th anniversary celebration last November with alumnus and Grammy award-winner Dashon Burton. see his story on Page 4 of the Wasd 2015 fall Newsletter (www.wasd.org).

Funding a ‘Smart Start’ to a New YearFunded by a $5,000 donation from Brodart Co. through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program and the district’s Title 1 department, Stevens Primary School launched its inaugural “Smart Start” summer program in July.

The half-day program was developed for incoming kindergarten through second-

grade students to provide literacy- and numeracy-based instruction lifted from the district’s Everyday Math and Treasures reading programs. The four-week program offered skill enhancement for both subjects to help advance students’ learning ahead of the 2015-16 school year. In addition, the program worked in partnership with Firetree Place, which provided a structured afternoon recreation component that also served lunch and dinner for participating students.

donors wishing to support programs can make a donation online by credit card visiting: www.wasd.org/foundation. donations also can be mailed to: 2780 West fourth st., Williamsport, Pa 17701.

2780 West Fourth St.Williamsport, PA 17701

A NEWSLETTER OF THE WILLIAMSPORT AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT EDUCATION FOUNDATION

As the needs of the district have grown, so has the generosity of our donors. While reflecting on last year, it’s amazing to see some of the ways in which the education foundation has become a vital force in the Williamsport Area School District, in its impact on the lives of our students and community in significant ways.

Last school year, the foundation proudly distributed more than $250,000 to the district in support of programs, venture grants, capital projects, sponsorships and scholarships. The involvement of the foundation has grown enormously, and with that so has the response from our community, alumni and families, that helped the foundation bring in $527,000 during the 2014-15 school term.

Last year was a great year for the foundation, and we would like to extend a sincere and heartfelt thank-you to all our donors and sponsors. We are tremendously grateful for your participation and ongoing support.

•A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR •

GREGORY L. HAYES, JR.

To receive a bi-monthly e-newsletter featuring WASDEF news, email ghayes@wasd.org

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